Display-rack



W. HAGER.

(No Model.)

DISPLAY RACK.

Patented Nov. 3

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I wiiljzsscslgazgfar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLARD HAGER, OF ATHOL CENTRE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DISPLAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 570,704, dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed May 23,1896. Serial No. 592,767. (Nomodel) To all whom it mar concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD HAGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athol Centre,-in the county of W'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and sively to enable persons to make their selecsectional view of the same.

tions before the goods are placed upon a counter, thereby lessening the amount of handling necessaryfor the sale of goods and to a great extent preventing goods from becoming soiled and shopworn.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display-rack constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical Fig. 3 is a-transverse sectional view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate upper and lower brackets extending horizontally from a vertical frame or support 3, which is oblong, being com posed of parallel sides and ends; but it may be constructed in any other suitable manner. The upper and lower brackets,which are preferably triangular, are provided with bearings 41: and 5, receiving journals of upper and lower rolls 6 and 7 and an endless belt or apron 8 is arranged on the rolls and is adapted to receive samples 9. The lower brackets are provided at their attachment arms or portions with longitudinal slots 10, receiving clamping-screws 11 to enable the brackets to present their right sides outward, and each piece or sample is successively displayed in an advantageous position for view and examination, as its free edge is at the bottom while it is being displayed.

The pieces or samples are caused to fall successively when the belt or apron,which'may' be constructed of any suitable material, is advanced by means of a roll 12, which is located above the upper roll 6 and is adapted to rest upon the samples or pieces at the top of the rack and prevent more than one falling at the same time. The roll 12 is provided wit-h journals or gudgeons,which are arranged in guides 13, mounted on the upper brackets 1 and extending upward from the horizontal arms thereof adjacent to the bearings 4. The guides 13 are provided with openings to receive the journals of the roll 12, and the weight of the latter rests upon the pieces or samples, as the journals are adapted to move freely in the openings of the guides.

The upper roll, which is of greater diameter than the lower one, carries a ratchet-wheel 14, which is engaged by a resilient pawl 15, secured to the support or frame at the top thereof and extending outward and engaging the ratchet-wheel at the top thereof. The

inner end of the resilient pawl is slotted and adjustably secured to the support or frame by a clamping-screw 16, and its outer end, which engages the top of the ratchet-wheel, presses against the same, preventing any retrograde rotation and operating as a brake to prevent any accidental forward rotation.

A pulley or hand-wheel 17 is connected with one of the journals of the upper roll 6, and the rack may be either operated by hand or by any suitable power, as desired. The display-rack is designed to be mounted on a wall, post, or other suitable support, and it is especially advantageous for use in stores, as it will not take up any floor-room.

It will be seen that the display-rack is ex ceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to successively and advantageously display a series of pieces or samples, and that it will enable purchasers to make their selections without handling the goods themselves.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificin g any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is I 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a support, of upper and lower brackets, the lower bracket being adjustably secured to the support and capable of upward and downward movement to regulate the tension of the device, upperand lower horizontal rolls journaled in the bearings, an endless belt or apron arranged on the rolls and adapted to receive pieces or samples to be displayed, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the upper roll, and a resilient pawl engaging the top of the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

In a device of the class described, the combination with a support, of upper and lower brackets provided with bearings, the upper and lower horizontal rolls journaled in the bearings, an endless belt or apron arranged on the rolls and adapted to receive pieces or samples to be displayed, guides 

